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favorite tools

04-30-2007, 10:55 AM

I thought of something while reading some of the other posts. What are some of your favorite hand tools. Brands, types, size etc. we were talking about grinders a little in another post. My favorites are 4 1/2" Metabo. [have 3] I have had Millwaukees [did good, nobody makes a better 1/2" drill], Makita [didn't like the cord], Craftsmen [didn't last to long] . Have had paddle switchs but prefer the thumb swith with lock. Have a big Black and Decker wildcat 7"/9" that will wear you out but it can remove some material. HF brand had 2 [inherited] that totally sucked, used them with flap discs only. Didn't last too long and no power.Good to have one for a pinch i guess.

Anybody have any favorite brands of tools. Something you tried and either liked or didn't like?

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I guess my favorite one is the one I need now, regardless of who makes it... but I think the most important tool I have is my big vice. You can cut and weld steel many ways, but without a vice most of my work would be a bigger .,if not impossible chore. Of course, a good hammer is a must also.
Jim

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I Have A Millwauke 7in & 4 1/2 They Bouth Have Been Prety Good Grinders I Have Too Black& Decker That I Got For X-mas The First Thing I Do Is Cut That Stiff Cord Off And Put A Good One On From An Old Extion Cord And Pi##off The Old Lady I Have A Dewalt 1/2 Drill That Well Brack The Arm. And Love The Miller Blue Things

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1/2 millwaukee drill been having for years and still going stong.have the 4 1/2 grinder and was never impressed with it but have a 4 1/2 & a 6" dewalt and they know how to get a job done.pretty much all my air tools are c/p

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All I can say is if you but c**p you buy twice. I always buy the best i can, there's nothing worse than getting on a job and your gear letting you down. It doesn't look good to your clients and just makes your job more difficult.

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Oh yeah, The Bessey clamps, almost forgot them they are the best. And the Big wilton vise. Like somebody on here said use the drilling hammer alot. More than any ballpean hammer. Tape measure I like best is Craftsman [I didn't get a Miller ] I like the one with the lever on the botom, will only retract if you squezze the lever. The thumb locks are OK but I like the lever best. Also when I tear it up they replace it free . How about for marking on steel. We use "Presto" brand white out pens. They work very good, will even right up side down all you have to do is squeeze them a little. And the mark stays put untill the plasma cutter hits it. Its flammable so dont hit the pen with the torch, but never had one burn up and have been hit with sparks constantly. Here is a pic of it, works great for bending sheetmetal too. Also it comes right off with brake kleen or wd4o, so we use it to mark when we service shop equipment [compressors, lifts etc]

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I've got a couple of old-style 12V PC cordless drills that I got back in 1990, when cordless was new. One of them dropped 8 feet to a concrete floor the first week I had it, with no apparent effect. I wish someone still made that style - the newer "T-handle" drills feel nicely balanced in the store, but are not so great when you need to get some weight behind them, one-handed. Hope mine last forever!